Car-coupling



I. R EIF.

CAR COUPLING. APPLICATION FILED mum: 1, 1920.

Patnted Nov; 22, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

-J. REIF.

CAR coumme. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1, I920.

1,397,781. v PatentedNov. 22,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH REIF, 0F HEBRON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF FORI'Y-FIVE GENT. TO

FRANCIS E. LING, OF IIEBRON, INDIANA.

GAB-COUPLING.

i.,.aer,tai.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 22, 1921.

Application filed June 1, 1920. Serial No. 385,485.

To aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, JosnrH Runs, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Heb-ron, county of Porter, and State ofIndiana, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments inCar-Couplings, of which I do declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forming a part of this speclfication. Y I

My present invention has for its object to provide an improvedconstruction of car coupler and the invention consists in the featuresof novelty hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing and particularly pointed out in the claims at the end of thespecification.

Figure l is a plan viewshowing a pair of draw heads embodying myinvention and showing, also, portions of cars coupled together thereby.Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation. Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 2showing the parts in different position. Fig. 4 is an end view of myimproved coupling. Fig. 5 is a view in cross section on line 5-5 of Fig.2. Fig. 6 is a view'in vertical section at one side of the gravitatinglatch, parts being shown in elevation. Fig. 7 is a detail perspectiveview of the gravitating latch.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, two draw heads designated as A and A.are shown coupled together and as embodying my invention. As these drawheads are duplicates one of the other, a description of one will answerfor both. Each of the draw heads is preferably formed of a castinghaving con-v nected thereto a draw bar a of any appro priateconstruction and suitably connected with the platform or underframe ofthe car. In the preferred form of my invention, each draw head comprisesa forwardly projecting hook 10 having a rounded end and having aninwardly extending shoulder 11, there being formed at the base of eachhook 10 an open space 12 to admit the hook of the companion draw head.As shown, each. draw head is formed at the sideopposite the hook 10 witha forwardly projecting arm or side portion 13 having a verticallyinclined slot 15 formed therein to receive a headed pin 16 the inner endof which is secured to the gravitating latch B. To the pin 16 ispivotally connected a link 17 to the inner end of which is fastened achain 18. The upper end of this chain is secured to the arm 19 of areleasing bar 20. This releasing bar 20 is shown as extending from sideto side of the car platform C and as having its ends journaledin platesD that are secured to the ends of the platform C, the upper ends of theplates D rising slightly above the platform C. The outer ends of thereleasing bar 20 are provided with crank handles 22 by manipulatingwhich crank handles the operator can lift the latch B without passingbetween the cars. As shown, each of the plates D has a shoulder (Zoffset therefrom at a slight distance from its upper end and against theinclined portion of this shoulder d the crank handles 22 will ride andwhen these handles are swung from the position shown in Fig. 2 to theposition shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the elasticity of the metal ofthe plates D and handles 22 will permit the handles to swing past theshoulders (Z of the plates D and the shoulders will thus retain thehandles in the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, with thelatch Blifted.

By reference more particularly to F 7 of the drawings, it will be seenthat the latch B is of plate-like form and the front edge of the latch Bis provided with a beveled or inclined surface 25 upon its inner side,this surface 25 tapering inwardly and down wardly as shown, so that whenthe rounded end of the hook 10 of one draw head contacts with theinclined surface 25 of the latch of the companion draw head, the latch Bwill be lifted and at the same time will be moved inwardly from theposition shown by full lines to the position shown by dotted lines inFig. 6. The rear edge of the latch B is formed with an inclined surface26 adapted to ride upon a correspondingly inclined surface or way 27that is formed upon the draw head at one side of the space 12 andbetween said space 12 and the side wall or arm 13 of the draw head andat the upper end of the inclined way or surface 27 is provided ashoulder 28 that may be engaged by the shoulder 29 formed on the latch Bto limit the upward movement of the latch.

From the foregoing description, the operation of my improved couplerwill be seen to be as follows, it being understood that the draw headsA, A are so mounted as to have slight lateral movement: When the drawheads A and A are brought together to couple the cars, the impact of therounded tating latch substantially opposite the face portions of thehooks 10 against the inclined ortions 25 of thelatches B will cause theatches to be lifted and moved rearwardly, as indicated by dotted linesin Fig. 6, until the-hooks 10 are within the spaces 12 of the draw headsand the shoulders 11 of the hooks are interlocked,as shown in Fig. 1 ofthe drawings. hen the uncoupling of the cars is to be effected, theoperator by turning the crank handles 22 at the sides of the car, canlift the latches B, thus permitting the hooks 10 of the draw heads to bedisengaged as the cars are pulled apart, the beveled opposing faces ofthe shoulders 11 of the hooks readily permitting this disengagement ofthe hooks 10.

My invention affords an extremely simple, cheap, durable and effectiveconstruction of coupler, I wish it understood that the de tails ofconstruction above set out may be varied'without departing from. thespirit of the invention and that features of the invention may beemployed Without its adoption as an entirety.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. A car coupler comprising a draw headhaving a vertically disposed, forwardly projecting hook and a verticallyslidable graviof the hook to act upon thaopposite side of thecorresponding hook on an opposing coupler from the first mentioned hook.

2. A car coupler comprising a draw head havlng a vertically d1sposed,forwardly prohaving at one side a vertically disposed, forwardlyprojecting hook and having, at its opposite side a forwardly projectingarm, and a vertically slidable latch connected to the inner side of saidarm substantially opposite the face of said hook and adapted to hold anengaging hook in place when two draw headsare coupled together.

4. 'A car coupler comprising a draw head having at one side averticallyvdisposed, forwardly projecting hook and having at itsopposite side a forwardly projecting slotted arm, a verticallyslidable'gravitating latch connected to the innerside of saidarnisubstantially opposite the face of said hook and adapted to hold anengaging. hook in place when two draw heads are coupled together, and aguide pin extending through said slotted arm and connected to saidlatch.

5. A car coupler comprising a draw head having a vertically disposed,forwardlyprojecting hook and a vertically slidablegravitating latchspaced from said .hookto. act upon the opposite side of thecorresponding hook 011 an opposing coupler from the first mentionedhook, said draw. head being provided with an inclined way along whichthe latch may slide vertically and 'rearwardly when pressure is exertedupon the. front edge of the latch.

6. A car coupler comprising a draw head having a vertically disposed,forwardly .piojecting hook and a vertically slidable gravitating latchspaced from said hook to act upon the opposite side of the.corresponding hook on an opposing coupler, from the first mentionedhook,an operating rod for lifting said latch, and means connecting'saidrod tosaid latch.

. JOSEPH REIF.

